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Honoring Those Lost in Attacks in Libya

Transfer of Remains Ceremony Honoring Those Who Lost Their Lives in Libya

On September 14, 2012, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered remarks at the Transfer of Remains Ceremony to honor those lost in attacks in Benghazi, Libya. Secretary Clinton began her remarks by saying, "...Today we bring home four Americans who gave their lives for our country and our values. To the families of our fallen colleagues, I offer our most heartfelt condolences and deepest gratitude."

President Obama remembered the four men, and said:

"Glen Doherty never shied from adventure. He believed that, in his life, he could make a difference -- a calling he fulfilled as a Navy SEAL. He served with distinction in Iraq and worked in Afghanistan. And there, in Benghazi, as he tended to others, he laid down his life, loyal as always, protecting his friends. Today, Glen is home.

"Tyrone Woods devoted 20 years of his life to the SEALs -- the consummate 'quiet professional.' At the Salty Frog Bar, they might not have known, but 'Rone' also served in Iraq and Afghanistan. And there, in Benghazi, he was far from Dorothy and Tyrone Jr., Hunter and little Kai. And he laid down his life, as he would have for them, protecting his friends. And today, Rone is home.

"Sean Smith, it seems, lived to serve -- first, in the Air Force, then, with you at the State Department. He knew the perils of this calling from his time in Baghdad. And there, in Benghazi, far from home, he surely thought of Heather and Samantha and Nathan. And he laid down his life in service to us all. Today, Sean is home.

"Chris Stevens was everything America could want in an ambassador, as the whole country has come to see -- how he first went to the region as a young man in the Peace Corps, how during the revolution, he arrived in Libya on that cargo ship, how he believed in Libya and its people and how they loved him back. And there, in Benghazi, he laid down his life for his friends -- Libyan and American -- and for us all. Today, Chris is home.

"Four Americans, four patriots -- they loved this country and they chose to serve it, and served it well. They had a mission and they believed in it. They knew the danger and they accepted it. They didn't simply embrace the American ideal, they lived it. They embodied it -- the courage, the hope and, yes, the idealism, that fundamental American belief that we can leave this world a little better than before. That's who they were and that's who we are. And if we want to truly honor their memory, that's who we must always be."

In her remarks, Secretary Clinton spoke of condolences received from the Middle East and North Africa and addressed events unfolding in the region. The Secretary said:

"...In the days since the attack, so many Libyans -- including the Ambassador from Libya to the United States, who is with us today -- have expressed their sorrow and solidarity. One young woman, her head covered and her eyes haunted with sadness, held up a handwritten sign that said 'Thugs and killers don't represent Benghazi nor Islam.' The President of the Palestinian Authority, who worked closely with Chris when he served in Jerusalem, sent me a letter remembering his energy and integrity, and deploring -- and I quote -- 'an act of ugly terror.' Many others from across the Middle East and North Africa have offered similar sentiments.

"This has been a difficult week for the State Department and for our country. We've seen the heavy assault on our post in Benghazi that took the lives of those brave men. We've seen rage and violence directed at American embassies over an awful internet video that we had nothing to do with. It is hard for the American people to make sense of that because it is senseless, and it is totally unacceptable.

"The people of Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Tunisia did not trade the tyranny of a dictator for the tyranny of a mob. Reasonable people and responsible leaders in these countries need to do everything they can to restore security and hold accountable those behind these violent acts. And we will, under the President's leadership, keep taking steps to protect our personnel around the world.

"There will be more difficult days ahead, but it is important that we don't lose sight of the fundamental fact that America must keep leading the world. We owe it to those four men to continue the long, hard work of diplomacy."

You can read President Obama's full remarks here, and Secretary Clinton's here.

Comments

Comments

Patricia M.

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California, USA

September 15, 2012

Patricia M. in California writes:

Thank you so much for posting the touching and heartbreaking video of the transfer service for the four Americans killed in Libya: Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, Sean Smith, and Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. It made it possible for this citizen in California to honor all four of them and to hear the speeches made by President Obama and Secretary Clinton.

Deirdre F.

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United States

September 15, 2012

Deirdre F. in the U.S.A. writes:

Hillary Clinton is an amazing woman and an inspiration to all people around the world. She has handled this crisis with strength and grace, and I am proud she is a representaive for The United States. Thank you Hillary.

Marty

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Virginia, USA

September 15, 2012

Marty in Virginia writes:

There are no words when our hearts are so broken. These good men deserve our best reverence, our solemn promise to stay the course by continuing their honorable efforts. Americans love deeply, because we are free, and we are bonded together as one, though we freely live as many...many as one. My heart goes out to all who feel our loss.

Barbara M.

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United States

September 15, 2012

Barbara M. in the U.S.A. writes:

This was a sad yet proud moment. As a former FS employee, I find that even though I am retired I remain united with my colleagues. When one of us hurts, all of us hurt. I do not understand the hatred that could have caused this horrible, horrible sequence of events. My prayers remain with the families and souls of our departed ones.

DonaldM

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Virginia, USA

September 16, 2012

Donald M. in Virginia writes:

It's a sad day when we lose American lives to terrorists. It also has to underscore the money sent to these Arab Nations that burn our flag, march in the streets like the Palestians did during our September 11th, 2001 attack and celebrate our losses. All the good deeds the State Department has tried to implement and the wheels of Justice and the hate that boils in the blood of those Arabs seems to me the simple solution is draft up a new Movie that can be translated in Arabic to try and calm things down before we have the biggest melting pot of Angar at our Americans. Just think you send in ships and marines to Lybia and they just turn around and hit other places. United States needs to ensure all the Embassies in the Middle East are safe and secure from these attacks or shut them down before we continue losing more Americans. There is no way in the world you can call them your friend, when they are destroying our people! Friends do not destroy human life, enemies do! May our Americans rest in peace and prayers to the families for the service they have done for thier country.

palgye

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South Korea

September 18, 2012

Palgye in South Korea writes:

mourn to victims
and
i'm quit strike
and
i need your's co-work.

twenty27

September 17, 2012

W.W. writes:

r they calm now ?

C. K.

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California, USA

September 16, 2012

C. Kennedy in California writes:

It would be much appreciated if the State Department provided information on the charities to which the a donation could be made to honor these men.

Mari

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United States

September 16, 2012

Mari in the U.S.A. writes:

What is the response of the Department of State to the story in today's London Independent, saying that Obama administration had 48 hours advance knowledge of the attacks in Libya?
[independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/revealed-inside-story-of-us-envoys-assassination-8135797.html ]

This is disturbingly reminiscent of the Bush administration, which also failed to act on advance warnings about the original 9/11 attacks.

Roger T.

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Texas, USA

September 16, 2012

Roger T. in Texas writes:

Thank you for the beautiful and moving ceremony honoring these American heroes. American at its best arising out of its worst. Thank you.

Heather

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Indiana, USA

September 16, 2012

Heather in Indiana writes:

I know I am not the only one who is highly upset over the deaths of the innocent americans overseas in the U.S. embassys but my question is: Why in the world are we still sending our tax dollars to either Egypt or Libya? From what I have gathered so many people are infuriated I wouldn't be surprised if a petition is not already circulating to not send those funds. I am not the people but I am one of many. Don't fund terrorist nations.

Ashim C.

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India

September 16, 2012

Ashim C. in India writes:

USA does everything in the name of democracy, freedom and liberty. Yet USA gets reasons to to mourn it's citizens far too often. US diplomacy has failed to position US itself in world affairs, or it's communication design in Asia and Africa to grow out of perceptions created about US during cold war years. Net result is huge drainage of scarce resources and little momentary or no results utimately. If US interests in Libya, Syria, Egypt, Iraq and Afpak regions where US citizens are dying every second day, can be threatened the way they are, one can imagine how American pride and prestige shall be damaged beyond redemption if US really has to take on say a power like China for example.

mohamed

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Tunisia

September 16, 2012

Mohamed in Tunisia writes:

i dont know how is behind this hate

i lived for years in us sincerly american people is the best so why the extremists do such atrocity

William M.

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Florida, USA

September 16, 2012

William P. in Florida writes:

I don't know what is more sad...9/11 in 2001 or the loss of these 4 men.

This is beyond an outrage and now we know it really didn't have anything to do with a stupid film.

Please do whatever it takes to bring the people responsible for this to justice. This simply breaks my heart.

Thank you,
William P.

Eugene

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North Carolina, USA

September 17, 2012

Eugene in North Carolina writes:

I am Sean Smith's father-in-law. On behalf of our family, I would like to thank President Obama, Vice President Biden, Secretary Clinton, and the entire State Department team for the way you have responded. Sean was honored in a dignified and appropriate way without politics. Some day, I will post a drawing from my granddaughter of the American Flag, when she was inspired by the memorial ceremonies for her father. Thank you everyone for all that you have done. What a fine community you are at State with a wonderful leader in Hillary Clinton!!

Maureen

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Massachusetts, USA

September 17, 2012

Maureen in Massachusetts writes:

Symbols speak for emotions overtaken. That space is filled with the most intangible place of dignity one could touch. The deepest ideal and burden of proof. If you â€œfeelâ€ this image than have you understood country? All that your country really has, is you.

Anna

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District Of Columbia, USA

September 22, 2012

Anna in Washington, DC writes:

Our prayers continue to be with the families of the victims and their State Department coworkers.